Two of the most decorated stars of modern American jazz are set to headline the 20th anniversary edition of Bray Jazz Festival, this coming May Bank Holiday weekend.

Guitar legend John Scofield,  who has won three Grammy Awards for his work in recent years, and 14-times Grammy nominated jazz pianist Fred Hersch are amongst the big name stars who will play this year’s festival, which returns on May 3rd, 4th and 5th next.

Read more: Stars of Jazz to Headline 20th Bray Jazz Festival

Kind of Blue – Orchestrated
Thursday 30 May, 8pm, National Concert Hall
RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue still heads up lists not just as one of the greatest ever jazz albums but one of the most extraordinary recordings of the 20^th century. Now, 60 years on from its release, for the first time in Ireland this Miles Davis masterpiece gets the full orchestral treatment. Top jazz trumpeter Guy Barker has arranged the entire album, including orchestrating solos not only by Davis but by John Coltrane and Bill Evans. Who better to perform it than the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, an orchestra that has jazz in its DNA, with Barker himself conducting.

Read more: Miles Davis Masterpiece Gets the Full Orchestral Treatment

Ballydehob “The Little Village with the Festive Heart” has officially been launched on April 2nd with a jam packed Crane Lane Theatre. The Ballydehob Jazz Festival rolls out another outstanding programme featuring International Concert Headliners, Irish Supremos, a Live Music Trailall Weekend, Dance and Art Workshops, & the return of the Giant Puppets in the New Orleans Jazz Funeral Parade!! This years Festival, now in its 13th year, and entirely community driven is bigger and even bolder - over 50 Performances, 4 Days, 11 Venues… all in one gorgeous West CorkVillage.

Read more: Ballydehob Jazz Festival Officially Launched

Jake Curran is an Irish guitarist currently based in Los Angeles, California. His first release “Staying Put” is an energetic jazz composition influenced by the sound of drum n’bass grooves and cascading melodies. The tune opens with an uplifting theme followed by improvisations where the quartet take the intensity to another level before going out on a euphoric high. 

Read more: Jake Curran “Staying Put” Single Release

Back in October 2017 ÄTSCH released their first EP in Arthur’s Live Blues ‘n’ Jazz Club in Dublin. On the one year anniversary of that release they decided to return to Arthur’s to perform some completely new music and record the gig live on the night. They encourage fans to become part of their music video and this live recording is being released today.

Read more: ÄTSCH “The New One” Video Release

Liv Monaghan, has just released a music video for her song, Dead Lady’s Cigarettes, from the upcoming album, Slow Exhale.

The short film is a collaboration with the cinematographer, Kris Tagupa.

The song, Dead Lady’s Cigarettes, was inspired by an old cigarette case Liv found in a flea market in Paris. The piece was dating from the early 1940s. It still had three cigarettes inside and an almost unused powder press on the back; Perfect material for a song and later on a short film.

Read more: Dead Lady’s Cigarettes Music Video - Liv Monaghan

2018 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Programme is officially launched!

Thurs 13 Sept:  The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival today announced their full programme of events for 2018.  The festival takes place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend (25th to 29th October) and features an incredible line-up of all things jazz!

Nearly 1000 jazz musicians from over 20 countries are flying into Cork for the weekend, including major headline acts like China Moses, Laura Mvula, Blind Boys of Alabama, Nnenna Freelon, Stanley Clarke, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and The Maria Schneider Orchestra. 

Cork’s very own Paul Dunlea has also been announced as the inaugural Artist in Residence of the Festival for the 2018/2019 period which will see Cork being represented at key jazz venues and festivals around the world through numerous partnerships.

Read more: Cork set for Jazz renaissance